{"id":1236,"date":"2013-06-04T04:18:52","date_gmt":"2013-06-04T04:18:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/areasontosmile\/?p=1236"},"modified":"2013-06-04T04:25:52","modified_gmt":"2013-06-04T04:25:52","slug":"qa-prayers-and-inspiration-for-tough-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/areasontosmile\/2013\/06\/qa-prayers-and-inspiration-for-tough-times.html","title":{"rendered":"Q&A: Prayers and Inspiration for Tough Times"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"You're<\/a>
You’re in good company<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Question submitted via Formspring.Me\/BDaveWalters<\/a>:
\n\u201cWhat are some Bible verses I can share with a relative who just went to jail?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Holy Bible is a source of inspiration for Jews, Christians, and even Muslims all over the world.\u00a0 The real strength of the Bible is not that it is some big collection of \u2018thou shalt nots,\u2019 but stories about real human beings making real human mistakes.<\/p>\n

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead!<\/p>\n

A favorite thing of mine to do is pick up the Bible, think of my question, and open it.\u00a0 The first words you fall on is the answer to your question. In the mean time, enjoy these verses for comfort when times are tough.<\/p>\n

Above all else, remember this: No matter who you are or what you’ve done, while there\u2019s life, there is hope.<\/p>\n

Psalm 69:33<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cFor the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.\u201d (ESV)<\/p>\n

Hebrews 13:3<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cRemember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.\u201d (ESV)<\/p>\n

Matthew 25: 34 \u2013 40<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThen the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.\u201d (NKJV)<\/p>\n

Psalm 102:18-21<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cLet this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise. \u201d (ESV)<\/p>\n

1 Peter 5:6 -7<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b>\u201cHumble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.\u201d (KJV)<\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 3:17<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cNow the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.\u201d(KJV)<\/p>\n

Galations 5:1<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cStand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.\u201d (KJV)<\/p>\n

Philippians 4:13<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b>\u201cI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.\u201d (KJV Ad.)<\/p>\n

Psalm 51<\/strong>\u00a0(New International Version)
\n1<\/b>\u00a0Have mercy\u00a0on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;\u00a0according to your great compassion\u00a0blot out\u00a0my transgressions.\u00a02<\/b>\u00a0Wash away\u00a0all my iniquity and cleanse\u00a0me from my sin.3<\/b>\u00a0For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.\u00a04<\/b>\u00a0Against you, you only, have I sinned\u00a0and done what is evil in your sight,\u00a0so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.\u00a05<\/b>\u00a0Surely I was sinful\u00a0at birth,\u00a0sinful from the time my mother conceived me.\u00a06<\/b>\u00a0Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach\u00a0me wisdom\u00a0in the inmost place.\u00a07<\/b>Cleanse\u00a0me with hyssop,\u00a0and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.\u00a08<\/b>\u00a0Let me hear joy and gladness;\u00a0let the bones\u00a0you have crushed rejoice.\u00a09<\/b>\u00a0Hide your face from my sins\u00a0and blot out\u00a0all my iniquity.\u00a010<\/b>\u00a0Create in me a pure heart,\u00a0O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.\u00a011<\/b>\u00a0Do not cast me\u00a0from your presence\u00a0or take your Holy Spirit\u00a0from me.\u00a012<\/b>\u00a0Restore to me the joy of your salvation\u00a0and grant me a willing spirit,\u00a0to sustain me.\u00a013<\/b>\u00a0Then I will teach transgressors your ways,\u00a0and sinners\u00a0will turn back to you.\u00a014<\/b>\u00a0Save me\u00a0from bloodguilt,\u00a0O God, the God who saves me,\u00a0and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.\u00a015<\/b>\u00a0O Lord, open my lips,\u00a0and my mouth will declare your praise.\u00a016<\/b>\u00a0You do not delight in sacrifice,\u00a0or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.\u00a017<\/b>\u00a0The sacrifices\u00a0of God are\u00a0a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,\u00a0O God, you will not despise.<\/p>\n

And as always: if God be with you, who can stand against you?<\/p>\n

You are great, and I love you!<\/p>\n

And if you love me back, click ‘share’ up at the top!<\/p>\n

B. Dave Walters<\/p>\n

Writer, Life Coach, and Talk Radio Host<\/p>\n

Find out more about me:
\nhttp:\/\/about.me\/BDaveWalter<\/a>s<\/p>\n

Ask me anything:
\nhttp:\/\/formspring.me\/BDaveWalters<\/a><\/p>\n

Pages I support:
\nJesus and Buddha<\/a>\u00a0— Interfaith dialog<\/p>\n

Gnostic Theism<\/a>\u00a0— Religion and Spirituality for the 21st Century (Join the Movement!)<\/p>\n

Love One Another<\/a>\u00a0— A group for the coolest Spiritual people on the Internet!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question submitted via Formspring.Me\/BDaveWalters: \u201cWhat are some Bible verses I can share with a relative who just went to jail?\u201d The Holy Bible is a source of inspiration for Jews, Christians, and even Muslims all over the world.\u00a0 The real strength of the Bible is not that it is some big collection of \u2018thou shalt…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,55,80,39,35,15,114,29,81,38,31,46,88,110,28,41,49,48,17,78],"tags":[3,58,34,13,69,12,33,11,109,36,9,20,6,59,42,50,18,7,113,32],"class_list":["post-1236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-change-2","category-emotions-2","category-family","category-fear","category-getting-over-it","category-god","category-guilt","category-happiness","category-healing","category-hope-inspiration","category-love-2","category-love-yourself","category-mind","category-nlp","category-peace","category-positive-thinking","category-religion","category-spirituality","category-universal-law","category-worry","tag-b-dave-walters","tag-bible","tag-breakthroughs","tag-change","tag-christianity","tag-emotions","tag-gnosis","tag-gnostic-theism","tag-god","tag-hope","tag-jesus","tag-joel-osteen","tag-law-of-attraction","tag-scripture","tag-self-talk","tag-spiritual-but-not-religious","tag-spiritual-coach","tag-the-secret","tag-universal-law","tag-who-are-you"],"yoast_head":"\nQ&A: Prayers and Inspiration for Tough Times - A Reason to Smile<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Q&A: Prayers and Inspiration for Tough Times - A Reason to Smile\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Question submitted via Formspring.Me\/BDaveWalters: \u201cWhat are some Bible verses I can share with a relative who just went to jail?\u201d The Holy Bible is a source of inspiration for Jews, Christians, and even Muslims all over the world.\u00a0 The real strength of the Bible is not that it is some big collection of \u2018thou shalt…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/areasontosmile\/2013\/06\/qa-prayers-and-inspiration-for-tough-times.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Reason to Smile\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-06-04T04:18:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2013-06-04T04:25:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/areasontosmile\/files\/2013\/06\/dea5981a42e50e2dacaf6ffa06fbd8bf-174x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"B. 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He is the author of one book, \"49 Lost Secrets of Peace, Love, and Money\". For years, friends and relatives looked to him for guidance and support during difficult times, and he realized at an early age that his purpose in life was to serve and inspire. While touring as a personal coach with a prominent rock band, he was discovered by one of the top trainers of the Anthony Robbins companies, which lead to him settling down to open and operate a Marketing, Business Services and Coaching firm in Los Angeles. Armed with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he brings the same discipline and determination that helped him earn Black Belt rankings in Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi to all areas of study and focus. In addition to earning a degree in English from Morehouse College, he has mastered the science of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and other communication, healing, counseling and spiritual systems from all over the world. 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